Vault or safe



June 19, 1945.

J. w. MALLONEE VAULT OR SAFE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed 001;. 14, 1943 June ,J. w. MALLONEE VAULT OR SAFE Filed Oct. 14, 194:5

2 Sheets-:Sheet 2 u I k n.

ummuw' IIIIIIM WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII" cf. jyZd/onee,

Patented June 19, 1945 UNITED PATENT OFFICE VAULT on SAFE James W. Mallonee, Joplin, Mo., assignor of onethird to Mattie E. McKee, Joplin, Mo., and onethird to Emma Drake, Lake Worth, Fla. Application October 14, 1942, Serial No. 506,247 9 Claims." ('01. 109-8) This invention relatesto a vault or safe forthe protection of valuables, and'has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which" besides providing the usual protection.

against robbery'or unauthorized opening thereof, will'have provision for trapping a robber therein and away from the valuables, should the robber intimidate .a person. having authorization "to the vault or safe inthe opening thereof and to bring about separation of the robber from said per-. son and permit the'escape of'the' person both the robber. and the device.

' Another object of this inventionislthe revi-v 'sion of a device of the above stated character which is so constructed" that a person being authorized in its'use may enter and leave said'device without danger of being trapped therein or causlngan alarm of said device to be actuated.

With these and other objects in viewas will becomemoreapparent as the description proceeds,

from

ed of a double thickness suitably insulated, as

shown at 6, for the protection of the contents of thevault from excessive heatin case of fire.

The insulating material can be of any suitable 7 in which valuables may be arranged and a vestibule I6. The revolvingdoor controls the entrance between the vestibule and the compartment IS, the latter having a doorway l1 controlled by a secret door l8 which can onlybe opened from the interior of the vault or safe or from within the compartment l5., Any suitable securing means may be employed to prevent the door l8 from be- Figure 3. is a transverse sectional view mus tralting 'a revolving door controllingthe passageway between compartments provided in thedevice.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view show and the alarm actuated'by the closing of the'trap door.

employed on the revolving door and engaging its keeper. A Figure 6 is a view similar toFigure 5 showing the locking element disengaged fromth'e keeper.

Figure" 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a trip member operated by the rotation of the revolving door to release a locking' pin for securing the door against movement after it has op erated to cooperate with'the trap door in trapping a burglar inthe device. p 'Referr'ing' in detail to' the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates the wall construction of :the vault or safe andwhich is preferably construct.-

Figure J5'is' a-fragmentary sectional view illus- ,trating a locking element of a permutation look i I ingthe trap door in a closed position and locked ingopened from the exterior of the device.

' Also for, controlling the doorway 'l-is a slidable trapdoor I 9 arranged withinfthe vestibule and when open is concealed from view. Coil-type expansion springs 20, set in the wall construction 5 of the device, act onthetrap door is to urge the latter into position of closingthe doorway 'I. A locking pin 2| carried by a lever 22 is employed for releasably retaining the trap door normally in an open position. The lever 22 is pivotally mounted within. a secret compartment 24 (see Figure 2) arranged in the ceiling ortop wall construction of the device, with the pin 2| entering the vestibule to engage with the trap door l9 for-retaining the latter in an open 10osition. I s The trap door I9 is also held in an open position by a treadle 25 concealed in the floor of the vestibule l6 and supported at one end by hinges 26 and further supported throughout its length by a series of coil springs 21 concealed within the floor (see Figures 1 and 2).

A suitable covering on the floor (not shown) is employed for concealing the treadle 25 from view and normally the treadle engages a keeper on the trap door Is to prevent the sliding movement of said door under the influence of the springs 20. It will be seen that the treadle is of a skeleton frame construction covering considerable of the area of the floor of the vestibule, so that a person in order not to operate the treadle must.

door I9.

be familiar with its location in the floor of the vestibule when walking through the latter.

The revolving door I4 is journaled in the wall construction and includes a platform 2'! carrying radially extending vertical panels 28 which will cooperate with the partitions II, I2 and I3 in controlling the entrance between the vestibule I6 and the compartment I5, A driving spring 29 of the coil type is connectedwith the revolving door for the purpose of causing the latter to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, when said door is released from a locked position. A permutation type lock 29' is carried by one of the panels 28 of the door I4 to engage in a keeper carried by the partition I2 (see Figures 1 and 3) for locking the door against operation by the spring and in a position so that the panels will completely block or close the vestibule I9 off from the compartment I5.

The partition 28 on which the permutation lock 29' is mounted protrudes slightly beyond the other partitions of the revolving door and a stop 30 is arranged in the compartment I to be engaged by said longer panel when the door I4 is unlocked and thereby limiting the distance in which the door I 4 will rotate under the action of the spring. The distance which the door I4 is allowed to rotate when released by the spring, is sufficient to carry a person standing on the platform of the door in front of the panel and operating the permutation lock 29, into the compartment I5 from the vestibule. The trailing panel 28 of the door behind the panel which carries the permutation lock 29' assumes a position opposite the partition I2 after the door has rotated as before stated, blocking or closing the vestibule to the compartment I5 and consequent- 1y preventing anyone else from following the person into the compartment I5. I

To prevent the door from rotating in a reverse direction, one of the panels (that one rotatably ahead of the one carrying the permutation lock 29') is provided with a keeper 3I to receive a locking bolt 32 mounted in the ceiling of the device and free for sliding movement by gravitation when released by the pivotal movement of a spring influenced element 33 actuated by the rotation of the door, or one of its panels, so that the door after admitting the person to the compartment I5 cannot be rotated in either direction consequently preventing anyone within the vestible from reaching the person within the compartment I5 or the valuables therein.

To operate the pin 2| for freeing the trap door I9 by the rotation of the revolving door I4, one

of the panels 28 thereof strikes a pivoted lever 34 mounted in the ceiling and connected to the lever 22 by a. link 35. Thus it will be seen as soon as the door H.- rotates to admit the person to the compartment I5 the pin 2I is withdrawn from the trap door allowing the springs 29 thereof to drive the trap door into a position of closing the entrance 9 trapping any person who may have followed into the vestibule the person who actuated or unlocked the door I4. Therefore, it will be seen that if a robber would intimidate a person having authorization to the device to enter said device and follow said person into the vestibule, the person authorized in the opening of the device when releasing the door I4 will stand on the platform of the door while the robher will stand on the floor of the vestibule and also on the treadle to release the latter from the As soon as the person operates the lock of the door I4, said person is carried by the rotation of the door into the compartment I5 the robber is blocked by the following panel of the door from following said person into the compartment.

As before stated, the door I4 automatically looks after a predetermined movement and cannot be rotated in either direction until released by a person familiar with the operation of the device in entirety. The robber cannot leave the vestibule either by way of the doorway I, owing to the trap door I9 having moved into closed position, nor can he enter the compartment I 5. The compartment I5 as soon as the door I4 rotates or operates the locking in 2| will be illuminated by an electric lamp 31 arranged in the compartment I5. To bring about the automatic operation of the lamp 31 by the operation of the door I4, a switch 38 is electrically connected in the circuit of the electric lamp and to the link 35, so that when the link moves to retract the pin 2I from the trap door I9 the circuit will be automatically closed to illuminate the lamp 31. Thus the person in the compartment I5 can readily see in order to operate the secret door I9 and escape leaving the burglar trapped within the vestibule.

When the door I9 moves into a position of closing the doorway I it strikes a lever 39' and imparts movement thereto (see Figure 4). The movement of the lever 39 actuates an alarm 40 of a conventional construction arranged exteriorly of the device for the purpose of attracting attention to persons in the vicinity of the vault or safe and indicating that a robber has been trapped therein.

The permutation lock 29' (see Figures 5 and 6) includes a locking element 4I mounted for rotation and which may enter a notch 42 of the partition I2 in securing the door l4 against rotation.

To prevent the trap door I9 from being opened from within, the vestibule I6 a gravity actuated pin 43 mounted in the ceiling of the wall construction 5 moves into a keeper 44 of the door I9 on the latter assuming closedposition. This prevents the trapped burglar from working the door I9 into an open postition for escape. Normally. the pin 43 is held elevated by the operating member 39 of the alarm 49. However, it will be seen that the door l9 moving into closed position slides the operating member 39 out of the way and thereby frees said pin 43 to enter the keeper 44 on the door assuming closed position.

To elevate the pins 32 and 43 operating elements 45 are connected thereto and extend through the ceiling of the wall construction for actuation from the outside of the wall construction 5 (see Figures 2, 3 and 4). Other types of operating means for the pins may be provided. This will permit freeing of the doors I4 and I9 for resetting of the vault or safe.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it Will be seen that a vault or safe has been provided which will afford the usual protection to valuables against theft and also is provided with means for trapping a robber therein should the robber intimidate a person in the opening of the device. Also, it will be seen that the construction of the device is such that the person opening or gaining admitance to the valuable containing compartment will be admitted therein while the robber will be kept from entering said compartment and that the robber thus will be kept from escape by being entrapped in a vestibule arrangement which has its entrance automatically closed as soon as admittance of the tooperate the lock 29' which when actuated frees the d'oor' and allows thep'erson to passinto the compartment l5. It is to lie-understood that thepurpose of the treadTesZ-ti is: to releasethe trap door byth intruder orrobber whois standing in rear of the person being forced toopenor release the revolving door. Otherwise, when the door M is operated under normal conditions to admit the authorized person to the compartment t the trap-door would be sprungor released for closingwhich is not desirable and only desirable in case of a robbery of the nature specified.

VVhil'e I have shown and described thepreferred' embodiment of my; invention, it will be understood that minor changes in, construction, combination andarrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a vault, a closure divided into a valuable compartment and avestibule having a doorway to the exterior of the closure, a, revolving type lock controlled door for controlling the communication between said compartment and the vestibule,

means for imparting rotation to said door when released, means'for limiting the rotation of the door, means for preventing reverse rotation of the door after rotating in its initial direction, an

automatic trap door for the doorway, means controlling closing of the trap door and including -means operated by the revolving door, and also including means concealed within the floor of the vestibule for securing the trap door in an open position and operable under the weight of a person thereon to release said trap door, said last means being known to a person authorized to enter the closure so it may be avoided to prevent the trap door from closing on the operation of the revolving door by said authorized person.

2. In a vault, a closure having a doorway and provided with a valuable compartment, a revolving type door including radially extending panels and a platform for controlling access to' said compartment, a locking means for said door 'means for automatically locking the trap door in position of closing the doorwayand releasable only from the exterior of the closure.

3. In a vault, a closure having'a doorway and provided with'a valuable compartment, a revolving type door including radially extending panels and a platform for controlling access to said compartment, a locking means for said door operated from within the closure, spring means for rotating said door, a stop for limiting the rotation of the door, a locking means for automatically locking the door after a partial rotation thereof to admit an authorized person to said compartment, an automatic trap door for controlling the dnorway, means for releasing the, trap door for closing and. including: means operated by the.- roltation: of. said revolving door, means: for auto matically locking the'trapdoor in position of closing'the doorway and: releasable only from. they exterior of the closure, a. treadle .concealed'in. thefioor; of the closure and normally sustaining: the. automatic trapdoorinan: open position and adapted to release the latter under a. persons weight thereon.

45. A vault including a pair: of doors controlling. progressive entrance to the interior of the vault. said doors comprising: a. revolving. door and a spring actuated sliding door, and catches securing the sliding door inopen position and im cluding a treadlerelease catchand a trip. release: catch, said trip release catch being actuatedaby' a rotary movement of therevolving door.

5. A vault comprising a pair of doors controlling progressive entrance to the interior of the vault, said. doors comprising a revolving door and a spring actuated "sliding door, catches securing the slidingdoor 1110013811 position and including a treadle release catch and a trip release catch, said trip release catch being actuated by a rotary movementof the revolving door, spring means for imparting rotation to said revolving door, means for limiting the rotation of the revolving door, and means for preventing reverse rotation of the revolving door after rotating in its initial direction.

6. In a vault, a closure divided into a valuable compartment and a communicable vestibule, the latter having a doorway to the exterior of the closure, a revolving door for controllingthe communication between said compartment and the vestibule, means constantly applied but normally restrained for imparting rotation to said door, means for limiting the rotation of the door in resistance to said door rotating means, means for preventing reverse rotation of the door after rotating in its initial direction, a normally open but self-closing automatic trap door for the doorway, means controlling closing of the trap door and including means operated by the revolving door and also including means concealed within the floor of the vestibule for securing the trap door in an open position but being operable under the weight of a person thereon to release said trap door, said last means being known to a person authorized to enter the closure so that said means may be avoided to prevent the trap door from closing on the operation of the revolving door by said authorized person.

7. In a vault, a closure divided into a valuable compartment and a vestible, said compartment and said vestible being intercommunicable, and

the vestibule having a doorway to theexterior of the closure, 2. door for controlling the communication between said compartment and the vestibule, a normally open but self-closing automatic trap door for said doorway, means controlling closing of the trap door and including means operated by the first mentioned door and also including means concealed within the floor of the vestibule for releasably securing the trap door in an open position and being operable under the weight of a person thereon to release said trap door, said last means being known to a person authorized to enter the closure sothat said means may be avoided to prevent the trap door from closing on the operation of the revolving door by said authorized person, and an alarm actuated by said'trap door moving into position of closing the doorway' 8. In a vault, a closure divided into a valuable compartment and a vestibule, said compartment and said vestibule being intercommunicable, and the vestibule having a doorway to the exterior of the closure, a door for controlling the communication between said compartment and the vestibule, a normally open but self-closing automatic trap door for the doorway, means controlling the closure of the trap door and including means operated by the first-named door and also including means concealed within the floor of the vestibule for releasably securing the trap door in an open position and being operable under the weight of a person thereon to release the trap door, said last means being known to a person authorized to enter the closure so that said means may be avoided to prevent the trap door from closing on the operation of the revolving door by said authorized person, an alarm actuated by said trap door moving into position of closing the doorway, and means for automatically locking the trap door in a closed position.

9. In a vault, a closure divided into a valuable compartment and a communicating vestibule and having a regular door affording access to said vestibule, a normally open but self-closing automatic trap door for the vestibule operated unknowingly by an unauthorized person entering the vestibule and also intentionally by an authorized person opening a door controlling communication between the valuable compartment and the vestibule, said controlling door between the valuable compartment and the vestibule being normally closed but self-opening upon releasable control of said authorized person, and opening a limited distance for immediate passage therethrough of the said authorizedperson but reclosing communication between said valuable compartment and said vestibule to prevent said unauthorized person from following the authorized person therethrough, and a secret door for the valuable compartment to permit the authorized person to escape from said compartment and whereby the unauthorized person is trapped and confined in the vestibule of the vault.

JAMES W. MALLONEE. 

